Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus

Tuesday 9th of March 2021 and I met my Guide from CYPRUS BIRD WATCHING TOURS on the street at 6 o'clock. A little early today as we have to drive to Limassol to look for birds. We took off driving towards east and our first stop at Akrotiri Marsh (Phasouri Reed-beds)

There are two bird hides at the eBird hotspot: Akrotiri Marsh (Phasouri Reed-beds) and we started in the south hide overlooking the reeds. And we could see that the reeds was covering a big area. Gorgeous morning and beautiful weather so I really enjoyed the stay in the bird hide.

We spotted a beautiful Marsh Harrier looking for food over the Akrotiri Marsh.

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus - Akrotiri Marsh (Phasouri Reed-beds)
View from the hide

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus - Akrotiri Marsh (Phasouri Reed-beds)
View from the hide

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus - Akrotiri Marsh (Phasouri Reed-beds) - Western Marsh Harrier

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus - Akrotiri Marsh (Phasouri Reed-beds) - Western Marsh Harrier
Western Marsh Harrier

Black-tailed Godwit, Limosa limosa, นกปากแอ่นหางดำ

Black-tailed Godwit, Limosa limosa, นกปากแอ่นหางดำ
Black-tailed Godwit / นกปากแอ่นหางดำ

Black-tailed Godwit, Limosa limosa, นกปากแอ่นหางดำ
Black-tailed Godwit / นกปากแอ่นหางดำ

We spotted a big group of Cattle Egrets on the other side of the reeds and we drove there to have a look. We reach the other side of the reeds and there is wetland in front of the reeds and there were many birds. We stopped and we saw a couple of Snipes and three Black-tailed Godwits having their morning bath.

What a beautiful area, there were hundreds of Coots sitting together. I have never seen so many Coots together before. There were cattle walking around in the marsh and there was also around 45 Cattle Egrets in the area.

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus - Akrotiri Marsh (Phasouri Reed-beds)
Baby cow

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus - Akrotiri Marsh (Phasouri Reed-beds)
Common Snipe

Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis

Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis
Cattle Egret

The reeds in front of the second bird hide had not been cut for a very long time so it was impossible to see anything. We walked back to the car and we continued along the marsh. We spotted one single Starling sitting in the field.

A little later we spotted another one and I reported two Starlings in my eBird app.

We had a group of 5 Starlings flying in to the field and I reported them on my eBird app. Now the report turned red as it was too many Starlings reported and I had to make a remark about the sighting. we were soon spotting five more Starlings.

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus - Akrotiri Marsh (Phasouri Reed-beds)
Stonechat

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus - Akrotiri Marsh (Phasouri Reed-beds)
Starling

Spur-winged Lapwing or Spur-winged Plover, Vanellus spinosus

Spur-winged Lapwing or Spur-winged Plover, Vanellus spinosus
Spur-winged Lapwing or Spur-winged Plover

I spotted 4 Ibises and also a few Ruffs. The Ruffs are on the way north and I hope to see the lek in Finland in May. So I might get to see the exact same birds I spotted here today. Ruff have an amazing breeding plumage and this is something I really look forward to.

We had seen quite a few birds of prey, Marsh Harrier, Common Kestrel and the Common Buzzard.

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus - Akrotiri Marsh (Phasouri Reed-beds)
Common Kestrel

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus - Akrotiri Marsh (Phasouri Reed-beds)
Common Buzzard

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus - Akrotiri Marsh (Phasouri Reed-beds)
Today's track at Akrotiri Marsh (Phasouri Reed-beds)

eBird

eBird Report

Akrotiri Marsh (Phasouri Reed-beds), Lemesos, Cyprus Mar 9, 2021 06:48 - 08:34
Protocol: Traveling
5.2 kilometer(s)
Checklist Comments: Bird watching with Cyprus Bird Watching Tours.
27 species

Northern Shoveler 1
Mallard 2
Eurasian Teal 5
Little Grebe 5
Feral Pigeon 150
Common Woodpigeon 2
Collared Dove 3
Common Moorhen 12
Eurasian Coot 100
Spur-winged Lapwing 10
Black-tailed Godwit 3
Ruff 3
Common Snipe 2
Cattle Egret 45
Glossy Ibis 4
Western Marsh Harrier 2
Common Buzzard 1
Common Kestrel 2
Common Magpie 1
Hooded Crow 30
Common Chiffchaff 1
Cetti's Warbler 1
Common Starling 12 First and second seen alone on the field. Then a group of 5 flying over us and before we left 5 others flying in over the field
European Stonechat 3
House Sparrow 7
White Wagtail (alba) 8
Tree Pipit 1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S83058034

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)



I turn off my eBird app and I start the app again after having changed the area to Akrotiri Gravel pits. We drive through the landscape and we are soon spotting Hopooe.

We passed a gorgeous Stonechat next to the road and I could get a picture. We drove along the dirt track when suddenly my Guide stood on the brake. We got back a few meters and we spotted a few Grey Plovers through the hole in the dyke. GOOD SPOTTED!

We drove through the hole and we saw the Grey Plovers but we never came close enough for pictures as the birds ran away from us. But we got to see a few Kentish Plovers before we left the gravel pits.

European Stonechat, Saxicola rubicola

European Stonechat, Saxicola rubicola
European Stonechat

Kentish Plover, Charadrius alexandrinus, นกหัวโตขาดำ

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus - Akrotiri Gravel pits
Today's track at Akrotiri Gravel pits


eBird

eBird Report

Akrotiri Gravel pits (34.621, 32.927), Lemesos, Cyprus Mar 9, 2021 08:35 - 09:05
Protocol: Traveling
4.9 kilometer(s)
Checklist Comments: Bird watching with Cyprus Bird Watching Tours.
7 species

Grey Plover 4
Kentish Plover 3
Common Buzzard 1
Eurasian Hoopoe 1
Sardinian Warbler 1
European Stonechat 2
Isabelline Wheatear 1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S83058281

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)



We stopped at a kiosk to buy some crisps before we continued to the Lady's Mile Beach. We drive along and we see a lot of flamingos sleeping in the ponds along the Lady's Mile Beach. We stopped to look at Little Stints, around 20 of them. A little too far away for any good pictures.

There was also a few Little Egrets in the ponds west of the Lady's Mile Beach. East side of the Lady's Mile Beach we have the Mediterranean and no gulls today. So this was a little disappointing as I had been hoping for some gulls today.

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus - Lady's Mile Beach
Sleeping Flamingos

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus - Lady's Mile Beach
Sleeping Flamingos

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus - Lady's Mile Beach
Sleeping Little Stint

Reaching the end of the Lady's Mile Beach and we have a pond on the right hand side and it is full of Black-headed Gulls. My Guide looks at the gulls and he is discovering one Armenian Gull and one Heuglin's Gull among all the Black-headed Gulls.

What a shame! I would like to have some pictures of these two gulls. Well, I might see them again some other time and hopeful I will be able to get some pictures.

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus - Lady's Mile Beach
Today's track at Lady's Mile Beach

eBird

eBird Report

Lady's Mile Beach, Lemesos, Cyprus Mar 9, 2021 09:19 - 09:41
Protocol: Traveling
4.77 kilometer(s)
Checklist Comments: Bird watching with Cyprus Bird Watching Tours.
8 species

Greater Flamingo 60
Little Stint 20
Black-headed Gull 150
Armenian Gull 1 Together with one Heugelin's Gull and 100 Black-headed Gulls
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Heuglin's) 1 Together with one Armenian Gull and 100 Black-headed Gulls
Little Egret 5
Hooded Crow 4
White Wagtail (alba) 1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S83058611

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)



We park the car at Zakaki Marsh bird hide and the area look like shit. Garbage everywhere and some twats have had the kindness to duck up the hide filling it with garbage.

But they had cut the reeds so we could see in to the marsh. Last time I was here it was like looking in to a wall of reed.

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus - Zakaki (Ζακάκι) Marsh
They have cut some reeds so we can see in to the marsh

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus - Zakaki (Ζακάκι) Marsh - Western Marsh Harrier
Western Marsh Harrier

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus - Zakaki (Ζακάκι) Marsh
Today's track at Zakaki (Ζακάκι) Marsh

eBird

eBird Report

Zakaki (Ζακάκι) Marsh, Lemesos, Cyprus Mar 9, 2021 09:43 - 10:02
Protocol: Stationary
Checklist Comments: Bird watching with Cyprus Bird Watching Tours.
5 species

Common Moorhen 1
Western Marsh Harrier 1
Eurasian Hoopoe 1
European Robin 1
White Wagtail (alba) 1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S83058801

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)



We leave Zakaki Marsh and we drive to the outlet, eBird hotspot: Zakaki (Ζακάκι) Marsh--Run-off Marsh. We have to stop the car and walk out to the salt lake as the area is muddy and we don't want to get stuck in the mud with the car.

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus - Zakaki (Ζακάκι) Marsh--Run-off Marsh
Walking towards the salt lake

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus - Zakaki (Ζακάκι) Marsh--Run-off Marsh

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus - Zakaki (Ζακάκι) Marsh--Run-off Marsh
Walking towards the salt lake

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus - Zakaki (Ζακάκι) Marsh--Run-off Marsh
Walking towards the salt lake

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus - Zakaki (Ζακάκι) Marsh--Run-off Marsh
Reaching the salt lake

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus - Zakaki (Ζακάκι) Marsh--Run-off Marsh
Hooded Crow

Not ma6ny birds to be seen, and I was disappointed as I really want to see waders. Maybe to early for them. They should be in north Europe in May to have babies. Well, I hope to see them in Sweden in breeding plumage. Anyway, here was nothing to see and we walked back to the car.

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus - Zakaki (Ζακάκι) Marsh--Run-off Marsh
Today's track at Zakaki (Ζακάκι) Marsh--Run-off Marsh

eBird

eBird Report

Zakaki (Ζακάκι) Marsh--Run-off Marsh, Lemesos, Cyprus Mar 9, 2021 10:05 - 10:41
Protocol: Traveling
5.35 kilometer(s)
Checklist Comments: Bird watching with Cyprus Bird Watching Tours.
8 species

Mallard 4
Black Francolin 1
Greater Flamingo 100
Great White Egret 1
Hooded Crow 1
Crested Lark 1
European Stonechat 1
Isabelline Wheatear 3

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S83059181

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)



We will look for the Griffon Vultures on the way back to Paphos. We decided to go to the eBird hotspot: Bishop's Farm--Pool on the way to the vulture area. We were hungry as well so we will Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.sthave our picnic lunch there.

We brought our picnic lunch in to the bird hide and we enjoyed the food while looking out over the pool. There were more Northern Shovelers than I could count. And we also had a Black-winged Stilt just below the bird hide.

I had not expected any Black-winged Stilt as I have just seen them south of Europe. And I have seen millions of them and I am never excited to see them. But I was excited to see one in Europe.

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus - Bishop's Farm--Pool
Northern Shoveler

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus - Bishop's Farm--Pool
Today's track at Bishop's Farm--Pool

eBird

eBird Report

Bishop's Farm--Pool, Lemesos, Cyprus
Mar 9, 2021 10:49 - 11:39
Protocol: Traveling
1.48 kilometer(s)
Checklist Comments: Bird watching with Cyprus Bird Watching Tours.
7 species

Northern Shoveler 30
Eurasian Teal 1
Ferruginous Duck 1
Eurasian Coot 3
Black-winged Stilt 1
Black Redstart 1
House Sparrow 10

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S83059867

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)



We spent an hour waiting for the vultures to show up. They are nesting on the cliffs but they fly to the mountains to get food. And last time I was here we could see them when they returned in the afternoon. But today no sign of the birds.

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus - Griffon Vulture Area
Griffon Vulture Area

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus - Griffon Vulture Area
Today's track at Griffon Vulture Area


eBird

eBird Report

Griffon Vulture Area (34.67, 32.846), Lemesos, Cyprus
Mar 9, 2021 12:02 PM - 12:55 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.62 kilometer(s)
Checklist Comments: Bird watching with Cyprus Bird Watching Tours.
3 species

Common Woodpigeon 5
Peregrine Falcon 1
Hooded Crow 3

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S83060634

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)



We drive back to Paphos and I ask my Guide to stop at a supermarket so I can buy honey for my tea. I discover Baklava at the supermarket, the biggest Baklava I have ever seen and I just had to try them even though I was on diet.

I bought one (or two) of each just to try them out. Now I have tried Persian, Turkish and Lebanon Baklava, the favourite is Baklava from Turkey. But the Baklava from Cyprus was very good. But I had to many of them and I did not feel so well when I was ready with the “tasting”

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus - Cyprus Baklava
Cyprus Baklava

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus - Cyprus Baklava
Cyprus Baklava, the biggest baklava I have ever seen

Third day of birding and we will take a day off tomorrow before we continue on Thursday. I have planned to go bird watching at Paphos Headland tomorrow.

Click HERE to find out if I see any birds at Paphos Headland tomorrow.


Vaccination

       
                  
OK, it has come to my knowledge that we have senior citizens visiting my web page. How hard can it be? So it's not very easy for them to see the blue coloured links to the next page.
Jiffy (also jiff)

noun [in SING.] informal a moment: we'll be back in a jiffy.

ORIGIN late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

So as you understand, in a jiff pretty much depends on your internet.
So I put a “Next” button here and I hope that there isn't any problem to understand how to use that one. So just CLICK the “Next” button on your left hand side and you will be on the next page in a jiff!

Marunong ka mag-tagalog? Walang problema! Magpunta sa kabilang pahina pindutin ang “NEXT” button sa itaas

Faites vous parlez le français? Pas de problème! Pour arriver à la page suivante faites s'il vous plaît un déclic le bouton “Next” ci-dessus!

Haga usted dice el español? No hay problema! Ver la siguiente página sólo hacer clic el botón “Next” encima!

Farla parla l'italiano? Non problemi! Per vedere la prossima pagina lo scatto per favore giusto Il bottone “Next” sopra

Sprechen sie Deutsch! Kein problem! Wenn Sie die folgende Seite sehen wollen gerade klicken der Knopf “Next” oben!

คุณพูดภาษาไทยได้ไหม ไม่มีปัญหา ถ้าคุณต้องการไปหน้าถัดไป ให้กดปุ่ม “Next” ข้างบนนี้

Вы говорите по-русски? Просто нажмите синюю кнопку "Next" с левой стороны и Вы моментально переместитесь на следующую страницу!

E ni Svenskar och inte förstår Engelska så ska ni skämmas. J och Björn, med det menar jag inte att alla mina stavfel ska ältas varje gång vi träffas.

Flag of Skåne / Skånska flaggan Well, the flag of Skåne, just a BONUS flag.


                                       

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